City ponders voluntary demolition program

The Alamogordo City Commission will consider a program that will help owners of dilapidated properties demolish their buildings. (John Bear/Daily News)

The Alamogordo City Commission might direct city staff to consider a program that will help owners of dilapidated residential properties to voluntarily have them demolished.

An item up for consideration at Tuesday's regular commission meeting bases the potential program on similar ones done in Kissimmee, Fla.; Bartlesville, Okla. and Huntington W.Va.

Several months ago, Mayor Susie Galea asked the city's legal department to research the idea and bring it back before the commission.

Kissimmee's program seeks to spur economic development in certain areas of the city by offering free demolition of certain properties, though the owner of the property must sell it or redevelop it within three years or reimburse the city for the cost of the demolition, according to Kissimmee city records.

In an effort to lure in new business, the Kissimmee program also offers up to $25,000 to companies who retrofit existing commercial buildings to meet current Americans with Disabilities Act and other modern standards, records show.

Huntington's demolition program claims that if the city spends $2.2 million on demolishing 250 dilapidated buildings, it will save taxpayers $437,000 a year.

The program goes on to say that surrounding property values increase by about $70 million when substandard properties are removed, resulting in an additional $1 million of revenue for the city per year.

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Bartlesville offers residents the opportunity to have substandard, deteriorated or dilapidated buildings torn down at a reduced rate, saying that it will help residents avoid public nuisance actions by the city and help improve the appearance of neighborhoods.

Should the commission decide to move forward, city staff will create the program, which will be brought back before it for further action.

Promotional materials for the Bartlesville program show a front porch littered with a half dozen couches and recliners.

Galea said the city has too many dilapidated homes and buildings in Alamogordo and wants to see the program come into being.

"It's a problem which needs to be addressed," Galea said.

The commission meets Tuesday at 7 p.m., inside city hall, located at 1376 E. Ninth Street.